Film marking system



Oct. 2, 1945. J. w. JONES, JR

FILM MARKING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 12, 1943 feproaucer Peprooucer I Cl/ All W2 rscw 275M553 r74 INVENTOR. r K

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iwhich paper iswound up in the reel.

Patented Oct. 2, 1945 2,385,861 FILM MARKING SYSTEM John Watson Jones, In, Los Angeles, Calif. assignor to Radio Corporation oi America, a corporation of Delaware Application October 12, 1943, Serial No. 5959M 9 (Jlalms.

This invention relates tomotion picture sound v paratus and particularly to a system for markihg, identifying, or cueing a motion picture film while in motion through a camera, recorder, projector, or sound reproducer.

In the production of motion picture sound films, the picture and sound are usually photographed and recorded on separate films in the first instance and then reproduced simultaneously in individual reproduction apparatus before combination onto the final composite film. This is done for several reasons, such as to permit the combining of other sound tracks, such as sound effects with the dialogue, to correct irregularities in the dialogue track, and to obtain the proper level and certain dramatic effects. In this rerecording. process, as it is called, the picture is projected on a screen in from of one or more operators called mixers, and the sound track is simultaneously reproduced, the mixers adjusting the volume and introducing the various sound effects at the proper points. Several rehearsal runs are made prior to the final take, which consists of the recording of a new sound record combining the various separate records.

During the rehearsals, the dialogue track and frequently the sound effect tracks are found to produce unwanted sounds, and it is necessar to note the point or points in the particular track reel at which such sounds are produced. Alter inspection of these points, modifications or corrections may be made. Deleterlous noises are introduced by scratches and holes in the sound record or other variations in the record, which introduce noise in the form of swishies or p1ops." Many times these noises may be reized, of course, that when the reel is unwound, that the paper will not be at the exact point producing the trouble, and it is necessary to search for it. This consumes considerable time, and it is often difllcult to locate the exact point in question.

Another-more accurate'method of determining the inspection point is disclosed and claimed in '1. C. Sharp U. S. Patent No. 2,338,014, of December 28, 1943. In the disclosure of this patcut, the mixer notes on a footage counter run in synchronism with the picture and sound films, the footage of the film at the point to be inspected. "in rewinding the films, this footage mark must be found to locate the desired point.

In the present invention, a switch button is located adjacent the mixers potentiometer controlling the amplitude of the sound from a particular reproducer, and ii an inspection of any point in the track or film in that particular reproducer is desired, it is only necessary for the mixer to'push the button adjacent his dial which duced. by painting over the record. The reduc-- tion of excessive sibilant sounds may also be acautomatically places a mark on the film at or immediately adjacent the exact pointto be inspected, thls'mark being either in the form of ah ink or crayon mark. In the case of sound films without pictures, this mark can be of considerable width and positioned inthe center oi the sound track. It a picture film or a film on which a picture ls-to be printed is to be marked, the merit may he applied. along the sprocket holes or on the area outside the sprocket holes. Since the mark is placed on the film shortly after the translation point or the point at which the sound film is scanned by the reproducing light beam, the application of the mark is generally placed at the exact point at which the modification is to be made.

complished by inking them over at the proper point on the original sound track to increase the average density of the track. Points onthe sound tracks being reproduced where insertions are to be made or certain portions are to be deleted must also be noted.

The present invention is directed to a system for enabling the mixer to mark any ope film being reproduced or all of the films simultaneously during the reproduction of the films at-the point to be inspected and possibly modified. One of the standard methods of locating inspection 7 points is to paper films, which consists in the mixer giving an order over an intercommunlcation system to the operator at the reproducer to insert a piece of paper in a certain film reel,

It is real- The principal oblect of the invention, there fore, is to facilitate the marking of sound motion picture films during projection and reproduction. 1

Another object of the invention is 'to facilitate the rerccording oi sound tracks.

Another object or the invention is to provide a marking or identification system which will mark a film during projection or reproduction at the exact pointv at which the film is to be inspected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a marking system for a film in motion, which may be operated from a remote point.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a film marking system for a sound film ediately adjacent to the poin to be i p ed during movement of the film.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the appended claims, the manner of its organization and the mode of its operation will be better understood by referring to the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a sound film reproducing system for rerecording purposes which embodies the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view partially in cross-section of the marking unit of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic drawing of the circuit arrangement for the marking system, and,

Fig. i is a detailed view showing a modification of the marking element of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing in which like numerals identify the same element, a console 5 having a neon type of volume indicator 6 and three mixing potentiometer controls 8, 9, and it, is shown intermediate three sound reproducers indicated at A, B, and C, and a loud speaker ii. The output of reproducer A is shown connected over conductors i2 to the mixing potentiometer 8; the output of reproducer B is shown connected over conductors iii to the mixing potentiometer 9; and the output of reproducer C is shown connected over conductors Ml to the mixing potentiometer id. The output of the three potentiometers is then combined and fed over conductors iii to the loud speaker 4, the level of the combined outputs of the reproducers being indicated by the neon tube volume indicator 5. Under each mixing potentiometer 8, 9, and iii, are shown button switches A, B, and C, respectively, which are connected by conductors it, ii, and I8, to the respective reproducers A, B, and C. Above the potentiometer 9, another button D is illustrated, which is connected by single line conductors to conductors l8, H, and I8.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the marking element located in each one of the reproducers A, B, and C is shown as including a guide 'rod 20' mounted in a support 2i, which may be part of the sound ably attached to its lower surface a bracket 33 which supports at its outer end a clamp Ml in which a crayon pencil as is held. In this manner, a crayon mark may be impressed upon the film in place of the ink mark as shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now to Fig. 3, this schematic drawing illustrates the circuit arrangement for the three reproducers of Fig. 1. Coils A", B, and C", associated with respective markers such as shown in Fig. 2, are controlled individually by respective switches A, B, and .C, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, while switch D simultaneously energizes all three coils. A battery source 36 supplies the actuating energy for all markers. Therefore, should it be desired to operate only the marker associated with coil A", then only switch A will be closed, and likewise for the other two markers. Should it be desired to operate all three markers simultaneously, then only switch 1) need be actuated, which simultaneously energizes all three of the coils A", B", and C", Thus, the mixer may, during a rehearsal, mark any one of the films in the respective reproducers or all three films simultaneously by simply pressing the proper button immediately adjacent his mixer potentiometer.

Since the mixer usually has his hand on a potentiometer knob, during rerecording, he can very quickly push the proper button after he hears the unwanted sound. Since each marker unit is positioned so as to mark the film after it passes the translation point, the mixer can press the button switch so that the beginning of the mark is nearly always immediately adjacent the point on the film to be inspected. The marking point is preferably located approximately eight frames from the translation point, since the time taken for the film to travel this distance is the average time required for a mixer to actuate the marking button. The pressing of the switch may be only momentary, the release of the switch discontinuing the mark since the restoring spring 49 of each of the markers will remove the marking element from the film.

Although the marking unit shown in Fig. 2 has i been described in connection with a rerecording reproducing frame or any other support within the reproducer. Fixedly mounted to the other end of the guide rod 20 is an electromagnetic coil 23 shown connected to a source of energy such as a battery it by a circuit which includes a switch 2-5. Slidably mounted upon theguide rod 20 is iron core or armature 28 to which is attach d a bracket 29 by any suitable means, such as screws 38. Attached to the lower end of the bracket is a cup 32, to the inner surface of which a tube 33 is fastenedin any suitable manner, such as by welding or riveting. Within the tube 33 and extending beyond the ends thereof is a wick '35, one end-oi which dips into marking ink in f closure ofthe switch 25 will energize 'coil 28 which will draw the armature 28 to the right until it vis stopped by the end of coil 23. This movement is suflicient to bring the outer end of the wick 35 in contact with the film 3b to mark it. A modisystem, it is to be understood that it may also be attached to a camera, projector, or sound recorder, if it is desired to mark the films in these devices. It is to be further understood that although the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in three reproducers, that any number of reproducers may be similarly controlled and their films marked.

I claim as myinvention: 1. A film marking system for a sound rerecording system having a plurality of sound reproducers, a loud speaker for reproducing the sound from said reproducers and a potentiometer for each of said reproducers adapted to vary the volume of the sound therefrom, comprising a film marking unit associated with at least one of said reproducers, and switch means, for said marking unit for actuating said marking unit to mark said film, said switch means being located adjacent the potentiometer for said respective reproducer.

2. A film-marking system for a sound rerecord- I ing system having a plurality of sound reproducfication of the wick and ink arrangement is illusers, a loud speaker for reproducing the sound from said reproducers and a potentiometer for each of said reproducers adapted to vary the volume of the sound therefromjcornprlsing a of said markers tor actuating said markers to mark said film, the respective switch for each of said markers being located adjacent the potentiometer for said respective reproducer.

3. A sound rerecording system in accordance with claim 2 in which a master switch is provided tor simultaneously actuating the dim markers in all oi said reproducers.

4. A system for marking one or more moving films being reproduced by a plurality of sound reproducers for simultaneously translating sound film records into corresponding electrical cur rents, a loud speaker for translating said currents into sound waves and a potentiometer for each of said reproducers tor varying the amplitude of the currents from each oi said reprcduc ers, said marking system comprising means in each of said reproducers for placing a mark on each of said films, a control means for each oi said marking means positioned adjacent the potentiometer controlling the electrical currents from said respective reproducer, and means inter connecting each of said marking means and its respective control means for actuating said marking means during reproduction oi said films to cause a respective film to be marked.

6. A system in accordance with claim 4 in which said marking means comprises an electromagnet and a marking element actuated by said electromagnet and adapted to contact moving film adjacent thereto upon energization of said electromagnet.

'7. A film marking system for a rerecording sound system having a plurality of means for translating a corresponding plurality of sounds records into electrical currents, means Ior translating said currents into sound waves and a volume control .means individual to and inter connecting each of said first mentioned means with said second mentioned means, said marking system comprising means individual to each of said first mentioned translating means for placing a mark on said sound records, and means individual to each of said marking means for the actuation thereof.

8. A system in accordance with clam 7 in which each of said last mentioned actuating means is positioned adjacent its respective volume control means for rapid operation of said actuating means during operation of said volume control meansi 9. A system inaccordance claim 7! in. which an additional actuating means is provided for the simultaneous actuation of all oi said mark ing means.

JQI-Ibi' WATSON JONEB, Jr. 

